由于温室效应，地球正在升温。当化石燃料燃烧时，释放出的二氧化碳进入大气层，像毯子一样将地球裹起来，这意味着热辐射无法发散，使地球表面温度升高。这个现象是地球上出现越来越多极端天气事件的原因之一。为减缓这种状况的加剧，人们可以在家里使用更节能的电器、尝试以蔬菜为主的饮食结构。本期节目介绍什么是温室效应。

词汇：climate change 气候变化

Our planet is heating up due to something called the greenhouse effect. This is one of the reasons why Earth is seeing more extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, forest fires and floods each year. But what exactly is the greenhouse effect, and what can we do to reduce it?

Let's first think about a greenhouse – you may have one in your garden! It's a glass structure that protects plants against low temperatures by trapping heat inside. But, while this helps your plants grow, Earth is trapping heat in the same way, and it's causing global warming. When fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, are burnt for power, carbon dioxide is released as a waste product. It enters the atmosphere and acts like a blanket around the planet, which means heat radiation can't escape and the temperature increases.

The impact of gases on the Earth's climate was first investigated in the 1820s. Eunice Foote, a scientist and women's rights activist, tested the effects of sunlight on different gases that she put into glass cylinders. Her results showed that carbon dioxide traps heat more than other gases. The idea of the greenhouse effect was born.

So, what can we do to reduce the greenhouse effect? The UN recommends using more energy-efficient electrical appliances at home and switching to LED lightbulbs. Also, by washing your clothes at 30° instead of a higher temperature, around 40% less electricity is used over a year, according to the Energy Saving Trust. A change in diet is also something to consider. The charity A Well-Fed World, claim that plant-based foods, as opposed to meat and dairy, need less land and water to be produced. So, switching saves energy and lowers emissions, which contribute to climate change.

We only have one planet, so let's try and take care of it as much as we can.

词汇表

heat up 变暖
greenhouse effect 温室效应
extreme weather 极端天气
heatwave 热浪，酷暑期
greenhouse 温室，暖房
temperature 气温
trap 吸收，保存
global warming 全球变暖
fossil fuel 矿石燃料
carbon dioxide 二氧化碳
waste product 废物
atmosphere 大气层
radiation 辐射
gas 气体
climate 气候
sunlight 阳光
energy-efficient 节能的，高能效的
LED lightbulb 发光二极管灯泡
plant-based 仅有蔬菜的，全素的
emission 排放

测验与练习

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。

1. What is a greenhouse?

2. What does carbon dioxide do when it enters the atmosphere?

3. Who first investigated the impact of gases on the climate?

4. True or False? Washing your clothes at 40° saves around 30% less electricity over a year.

5. How can eating plant-based foods help the environment?

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. Don't make the coffee yet. We need to wait for the water to _______.  

heat up                          trap                              burn                      investigate

2. We're planning to move to a country with a warmer _______ next year.     

sunlight                          radiation                       emission              climate

3. According to the weather forecast, there's going to be another _______ next week!

temperature                   heatwave                     atmosphere          fossil fuel

4. Do you have a _______ in your garden?

greenhouse effect          global warming            gas                       greenhouse

5. I'm not sure whether to have the meat or _______ burger.

glass                               plant-based                 LED                      energy-efficient

答案

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。 

1. What is a greenhouse?
It's a glass structure that protects plants against low temperatures by trapping heat inside.

2. What does carbon dioxide do when it enters the atmosphere?
It acts like a blanket around the planet, which means heat radiation can't escape and the temperature increases.

3. Who first investigated the impact of gases on the climate?
Eunice Foote, a scientist and women's rights activist.

4. True or False? Washing your clothes at 40° uses around 30% less electricity over a year.
False. By washing your clothes at 30° instead of a higher temperature, around 40% less electricity is used over a year.

5. How can eating plant-based foods help the environment?
Plant-based foods, as opposed to meat and dairy, need less land and water to be produced. So, switching saves energy and lowers emissions.

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. Don't make the coffee yet. We need to wait for the water to heat up. 

2. We're planning to move to a country with a warmer climate next year.    

3. According to the weather forecast, there's going to be another heatwave next week!

4. Do you have a greenhouse in your garden?

5. I'm not sure whether to eat the meat or plant-based burger.